JPH04251008A - Photoretrieval of article and its control system, and retrieving device in system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To highly efficiently execute receiving and delivering work by providing a receiver for processing an information signal after retrieval and a transmitter for reading the processed information signal through a reading means to issue an electromagnetic wave to a communication repeater, and driving the receiver and the transmitter through separate driving means. CONSTITUTION:The receiver 2 of a retrieving device 1 is provided at a desired spot on a part shelf in a storehouse, and a transmitter 3 is always carried by a part retrieving man. When a retrieving signal which is expressed by infrared ray 12 and has the same code as a preset one is given through a communication repeater 15 on a storehouse ceiling from a host computer 13 to the receiver 2 on a part shelf where a part desired to be retrieved is stored, the emission section 5 of the receiver 2 coinciding in the code emits light. The number of delivered and received parts is indicated on the display section 6 of the receiver 2, but for instance in the case where the part retrieving man receives and delivers the parts somewhat more or less, the number of parts indicated on the display section 6 is corrected by the input section 7 of the receiver 2. Since the transmitter is set on the receiver 2, the transmitter 3 can read the above corrected information. The transmitter 3 issues an information signal corrected by the infrared ray to the communication repeater to input it into the hostcomputer 13.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to inventory management of articles, and more specifically, to searching for a desired article from among a plurality of articles stored in a warehouse or the like based on instructions from a host computer. The present invention relates to an optical article search and management system that can always perform accurate inventory article searches and quantity management by sending the article information after the search back to the host computer, and a search device in the system. .

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, this type of light-based article search and management system includes a light-receiving section 17 that receives an arbitrary optical signal, and a light receiving section 17 that receives the light from the light-receiving section 17. Search device 1 provided with a light emitting unit 18 that emits light to the outside only when the code of the optical signal matches a preset code.
9 is attached to a desired location on a parts shelf 20 in a warehouse or the like where a plurality of articles are stored as shown in FIG.

The search device 19 has a light emitting unit 18 that displays light on the outside to inform the worker of the storage location of the desired article, and when the worker takes out or puts in the desired article. A data processing device (not shown) provided in the search device 19 receives information signals such as the quantity of articles that have actually changed.
By inputting the information to the input section 21 of the receiver/display device 19, the retrieved information signal can be transmitted to the outside by electromagnetic waves from the transmitter 22 of the transmitter (not shown) built into the reception/display device 19.

Therefore, in the optical article search and management system using the search device 19 having the above configuration, as shown in FIG. An optical signal is emitted from a communication repeater 24 installed on the ceiling, and a parts shelf 2 stores desired items.
0 search device 19 to emit light to have the operator perform a search,
Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 7, the worker inputs the quantity of the articles entered and taken out of the warehouse into the search device 19, and the search device 19 transmits the information after the search based on the input signal to the communication repeater by electromagnetic waves or the like. By returning the goods to 24, the actual stock of goods in the warehouse and the stock of goods on the data stored in the host computer 23 can always be matched, and reliable quantity control of goods can be performed. be.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the conventional optical search and management system and its search device have the following problems.

That is, in the above-mentioned optical search and management system, unless the information after the search is sent back to the host computer via a communication repeater, the actual quantity of changed items will not match the quantity in the data of the host computer.

Therefore, in any case, the search device must send a searched information signal to the communication repeater, but the search device sends information signals as many as the number of parts stored on parts shelves in a warehouse or the like. Moreover, it is not limited to fixed objects such as shelves, but may also be applied to movable objects such as carts.

Therefore, the above-mentioned search device usually uses a battery as its driving means.

In addition, when the above-mentioned search device uses a battery as a driving means,
As mentioned above, if the desired optical search signal is received and the light emitting part is made to emit light, battery consumption is not a particular problem, but when the information signal is emitted by electromagnetic waves as mentioned above, a very large amount of power is required. This requires consumption, and the battery that is the driving means is significantly consumed and has a short lifespan.

Therefore, there is no particular problem when replacing the batteries of a small number of search devices, but when changing the number of each type of parts stored in a warehouse etc. as mentioned above, the work of replacing batteries becomes extremely difficult. In addition to being complicated and time-consuming, various problems have arisen, including the extremely high cost of replacing batteries.

That is, the present invention solves all of the above problems,
By separating the retrieval device installed in each of a plurality of articles into a receiver and a transmitter with different driving means, and having the worker carry the transmitter while carrying out the work of loading and unloading parts, the above-described method can be achieved. Since the search information from the receiver of the search device can always be transmitted from the transmitter carried by the worker to the communication repeater, the only need to replace exhausted batteries is for the transmitter carried by the worker. The object of the present invention is to provide an extremely excellent optical search and management system for articles, and a search device for the system.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention invents a completely new optical search and management system for articles and a search device in the system, and takes the following measures. It is.

That is, the present invention emits a search signal issued from a host computer from a communication repeater, and selects a search device that matches the signal from search devices provided in advance in each of a plurality of articles in a search area or each of the article storage locations. An optical article search and management system for controlling the quantity of articles by externally displaying and searching for the article, and emitting an information signal after the search from the search device to the communication repeater and returning it to the host computer. Each of the search devices 1 is separated into a receiver 2 and a transmitter 3 each having a separate driving means, and then the information signal after the search from the receiver 2 is once sent to the transmitter 3. The transmitter 3 transmits the read information signal to the communication repeater 15.

Further, as a search device for carrying out the above-mentioned optical search and management system for articles, the present invention includes a host computer that emits a desired search signal, a communication repeater that converts the signal from the host computer into electromagnetic waves, and emits the electromagnetic waves. , provided in advance in each of a plurality of articles or the article storage locations in the search area, and displaying the information externally by receiving electromagnetic waves emitted from the communication repeater, and at the same time transmitting the information signal after the search to the communication repeater. A search device used in an optical search and management system for articles, which includes a search device that emits a search device, and a receiver 2 that processes information signals after the search.
and a transmitter 3 which reads the searched information signal processed by the receiver 2 with a reading means and emits electromagnetic waves to the communication repeater 15. The configuration is such that another driving means is provided.

(Function) In the article optical search system and its search device having the above configuration, since the search device 1 is constituted by a receiver 2 and a transmitter 3 each driven by a separate drive means, the The searched information signal processed by device 2 is sent to communication repeater 1.
All the power consumption of the electromagnetic waves required for emitting the transmitter 5 can be covered only by the driving means of the transmitter 3.

(Example) An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a search device used in the optical article search and management system of the present invention.

Reference numeral 2 denotes a receiver that constitutes a part of the search device 1 and can be installed at a desired location such as an article or parts shelf in a warehouse or the like.

The receiver 2 has a light receiving section 4 composed of a semiconductor light receiving element that receives the infrared rays of the emitted search signal, and when the code of the infrared rays received from the light receiving section 4 matches a preset code. A light emitting unit 5 for displaying light is provided externally, and furthermore, at a desired location of the receiver 2, the number of items in stock on data input to a host computer (not shown) and the information indicated by the host computer are provided. A display section 6 that digitally displays the scheduled number of entries and exits on an LCD, and an input device (not shown) that can appropriately change the numerical value digitally displayed by the display section 6 to the actual number of entries and exits after searching. An input section 7 is provided, and a battery (not shown) as a power source for driving is built inside.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a transmitter that reads the information signal of the number of entries and exits after the search from the receiver 2 and emits infrared rays of a desired code to the outside.

The transmitter 3 includes a confirmation section 8 that can digitally display and confirm the information signal read by the receiver 2 on an LCD, and a semiconductor that emits the numerical value displayed on the confirmation section 8 to the outside as infrared rays. A transmitting section 9 composed of a light emitting element is provided, and an operating section 10 for transmitting the infrared rays and reading search information of the receiver 2 is provided at a desired location of the transmitter 3. It has a built-in battery (not shown) as a driving power source.

The receiver 2 and the transmitter 3 are configured to be detachable from each other via adsorption means such as a magnet (not shown), and furthermore, the receiver 2 and the transmitter 3 are configured to be detachable from each other through an adsorption means such as a magnet (not shown). A desired information signal can be read by transmitting the signal.

The search device 1 used in the optical search and management system for articles according to the present embodiment has the above configuration. Next, a system for searching and managing desired articles using the search device 1 will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the receiver 2 of the search device 1 having the above configuration is installed at a desired location on the parts shelf 11 in a warehouse, etc., and the transmitter 3 is provided to a parts searcher such as a worker. Carry it with you at all times.

Next, the parts shelf 11 in which the desired article to be searched is stored.
A communication repeater installed in advance on the ceiling of the warehouse etc. sends a search signal consisting of infrared rays 12 with the same code as the preset code of the receiver 2 installed in the warehouse via the host computer 13 and control unit 14. 15, the receiver 2 with the matching code causes the light emitting section 5 to emit light, thereby providing a light display to the outside.

Therefore, when the light emitting section 5 emits light and provides a light display to the outside as described above, the parts searcher can instantly and reliably search visually the parts shelf 11 containing the desired item.

Note that although the receiver 2 installed in the parts shelf 11 is instructed by the host computer 13 to indicate the number of parts to be delivered or received, the number of parts to be delivered or received is not always the same as the instructions. For example, the parts searcher may carry out more or less stocking and retrieval on a case-by-case basis.

Therefore, the parts searcher can correct the numerical value displayed on the display section 6 via the input section 7 provided in the receiver 2 after the desired part is put in and taken out.

Next, after displaying the actual number of goods in and out on the display unit 6 as described above, the portable transmitter 3 is attached to the receiver 2, and the transmitter 3 corrects the above numerical value. The information after the search can be read via the pulse signal.

Therefore, the information signal after the search read by the transmitter 3 as described above is emitted from the transmitter 3 to the communication repeater 15 by infrared rays, so that accurate data is fed back to the host computer 13 and inputted. This makes it possible to always accurately search for inventory items and manage quantities; however, since it is always the transmitter 3 that emits infrared rays of searched information to the communication repeater 15, power consumption is reduced. For a significant battery conversion, only the number of batteries 16 built into the transmitter 3 is sufficient as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the power consumption of the batteries of each of the plurality of receivers 2 installed on the parts shelf 11 in the warehouse etc. can be suppressed to a very low level, so that frequent battery replacement of many receivers 2 and expensive battery costs are avoided. can also be minimized.

In this embodiment, the receiver and the transmitter are configured to be detachable via adsorption means such as a magnet, and the desired information signal is read by transmitting a pulse signal using a semiconductor element. may be a two-way communication means via carrier waves such as weak electromagnetic waves, as long as the information signal after searching input to the receiver can be reliably read by the transmitter, and the receiver and transmitter may may be equipped with other operating means.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, both the receiver and the transmitter use batteries as their driving means, but they may be rechargeable as long as they are portable and can be appropriately installed in a moving body. The shape, quantity, etc. are not limited in any way.

Furthermore, although the receiver and transmitter in this embodiment use infrared rays as their communication medium, the specific wavelength is not limited as long as it is an electromagnetic wave.

All the specific configurations of the present invention can be freely modified within the intended scope of the present invention.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the present invention emits a search signal issued from a host computer from a communication repeater, causes a search device installed in each article storage location to externally display the search signal, and performs a search. An optical article search and management system for controlling the quantity of articles by sending an information signal after the search back to the host computer via the communication repeater, wherein each of the search devices is connected to a separate one. A receiver and a transmitter each having a driving means are separated, and then the information signal after the search of the receiver is once read by the transmitter, and then the read information signal is sent from the transmitter to the communication repeater. The transmitter can be carried around at all times even during complicated work, and the information after searching for various parts can be stored in the transmitter and then sent all at once to the host computer, eliminating the need for troublesome transmissions. By minimizing work, it is possible to carry out loading and unloading work with extremely high efficiency.

Furthermore, according to the search device according to the present invention, there is provided a host computer that emits a desired search signal, a communication repeater that converts the signal from the host computer into electromagnetic waves, and a communication repeater that converts the signals from the host computer into electromagnetic waves. A search device used in an article optical search and management system comprising a search device that emits an external display and a post-search information signal upon reception, and each search device includes a receiver that processes the post-search information signal. , a transmitter that reads the searched information signal processed by the receiver with a reading means and emits electromagnetic waves to the communication repeater, and the receiver and the transmitter are each provided with separate driving means. Therefore, all the transmission power required to emit electromagnetic waves is consumed by the drive means of the transmitter, and therefore the battery, which is the drive means mentioned above, can always be replaced simply by using the transmitter alone. Instead, it has the special effect of being able to keep expensive equipment and battery costs to a minimum because it only requires the number of transmitters needed by the searcher for multiple receivers. reached.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a search device according to the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are reference diagrams showing the optical search and management system for articles according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the transmitter when the battery is replaced. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional search device. 6 and 7 are reference diagrams showing a conventional article optical search and management system. 1... Search device 2... Receiver 3... Transmitter 4... Light receiving section 5... Light emitting section 6... Display section 7... Input section 8... Confirmation section 9... Transmitting section 10... Operating section 13... Host computer 15... Communication repeater application Man
Asahi Electronics Research Institute Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Noboru Fujimoto

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A search device that sends a search signal issued from a host computer from a communication repeater, and selects a search device that matches the signal from among search devices provided in advance at each of a plurality of articles in a search area or each of the article storage locations. Externally display and search,
and an optical article search and management system for managing the quantity of articles by emitting an information signal after the search from the search device to the communication repeater and returning it to the host computer, wherein each of the searches The device 1 is separated into a receiver 2 and a transmitter 3 each having a separate driving means, and then the information signal after the search of the receiver 2 is once read by the transmitter 3, and then the read information is An optical search and management system for articles, characterized in that a signal is emitted from the transmitter 3 to the communication repeater 15. 2. A host computer that emits a desired search signal, a communication repeater that converts the signal from the host computer into electromagnetic waves and emits the signal, and a communication repeater that is installed in advance in each of the plurality of articles or the article storage locations within the search area. a search device for use in an optical search and management system for articles, comprising: a search device that performs external display by receiving electromagnetic waves emitted from the communication repeater, and at the same time sends an information signal after the search to the communication repeater; Each of the search devices 1 includes a receiver 2 that processes the searched information signal, and a reading means that reads the searched information signal processed by the receiver 2 and transmits electromagnetic waves to the communication repeater 15. 1. A search device for an optical search and management system for articles, characterized in that the receiver 2 and the transmitter 3 are each provided with separate driving means. 3. A search device for an optical search and management system for articles according to claim 2, wherein the transmitter 3 is configured to be portable. Device. 4. A search device for an optical search and management system for articles according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the electromagnetic waves are infrared rays. 5. A search device for an optical search and management system for articles according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the driving means is a battery 16. Search device. 6. A search device for an article optical search and management system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the reading means is comprised of a semiconductor element that transmits and receives pulse signals emitted via infrared rays. 1. A search device for an optical search and management system for articles, characterized in that: